Perforating machine



A. L. DAY.

PERFORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1920.

@gg 1 0} Patented Sept. 19, 1922,.

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ALFRED L. DAY, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'll'O DAY PERFORATOR GOMPANY, A VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

TERFORATING MACHINE.

Application filed may 5, 1920. Serial No. 379,162

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED L. DAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookline, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Perforating Machines, of which the followlng description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to perforating machines and particularly to perforating machines of that type which have matrices adjustable into different positions for perforatin different characters. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a perforating machine of this type with means for automatically restoring the matrices to zero position after each perforating operation. This feature of the invention is particularly useful when the perforating machine is used in a line of work where at each operation a different number or character is perforated. In this case it is necessary for the operator to set or adjust the matrices before beginning each operation, and in doin this it is a great convenience if all the matrices are restored to zero position at theend of each operation so that the setting is performed from the zero position.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved form of sector-shaped matrix which can be readily made in the form of a die casting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a perforating machine with means for making on a strip or ribbon a record of all the perforated characters made at different actuations of the machine.

Other objects of the invention are to improve generally perforating machines, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In order to give an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described, after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of a perforating machine embodying my invention with a portion broken out;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 1.

1 indicates the base of the machine which is provided with a throat or space 2 to recelve the paper to be perforated. The bottom of this throat 2 is formed by a dieplate 3 which is provided with a plurality of groups of perforations adapted to receive the perforating punches 4. These perforating punches are arranged in groups, as usual 1n perforatinglmachines of this type, and. each group as a sufiicient number of punches so that by selectively depressing the punches of each group any desired figure or character may be perforated in the paper. The punches are selectively actuated by means of matrices 5 which are carried by a vertically-movable head 6, the latter being shown as pivoted to the base 1 at 7. Each matrix is provided with a plurality of groups of punch-receiving recesses, the reces'ses of each group being arranged so that the blank spaces between the various recesses correspond to some particular figure, letter or other character. When any matrix is adjusted to bring any group of recesses over the punches and the head 6 is then depressed, the upper end of those punches which correspond to the recesses will enter the recesses and will not be depressed, while the other punches which correspond to the places.

where there are no recesses will be depressed and will thus perforate the paper. The blank spaces between the recesses of each group are arranged to produce the desired character, this being a common expedient in perforating machines of this type.

The head 6 may be given its vertical movement in any sultable way. I have herein shown said head' as having an operating shaft 7 journaled therein which is provided with a handle 8 for rotating it. This shaft 7 has fast thereon two eccentrics 9, the eccentric straps 10 of which have arms 11 extending therefrom which are pivotally connected to the base frame at 12. These eccentrics and the eccentric arms are shown as located on the outside of the base frame and head. Since each eccentric is fast on the shaft 7, the rotation of the shaft will obviously raise and lower the head by an amount equal to the throw of the eccentrics.

Each matrix 5 is sector shaped and it is provided with a hub portion 13 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 7. The body of each matrix is provided with a plurality of groups of recesses 14 to co-operate with the punchesd in perforatingfthe character vided at its end with a thumb-piece or projection 16 by which the matrixcan be ad-' justed about the "shaft 7 to brin any group of recesses 14 into line with tfie-group of punches. The head 6 is provided with'the cylindrical portion 17 in which the matrices are received, and this cylindrical portion is provided with a cover plate 18 which over- .lies the extensions 15 and which is provided with slots 19 through which the projections 16 pass- The face of each extension 15 is provided with indicating characters 20 which assist the operator in adjustin the matrix. When any matrix .isadjuste so that any indicating character 20 comes into position just at the lower edge 21 of the slot 18, then the matrix is properly adjusted to actuate the required punches to punch in the paper a character corresponding to said indicating character. These sector-shaped matrices are light in wei ht and can be readily made in the form of ie casting; if desired.

cans are provided for 'yieldingly holding each matrix in any adjusted position. This is herein accomplished by making the versely there-across andis situated inside of the extensions 15. This bar supports a plurality of spring-pressed retainers. herein shown in the form of balls 23' which enga e the innerfaces of the extensions, and t e extensions are provided .with recesses 24: which receive the retainingballs 23 and thus yieldingly hold the matrices in place. This form of retainer does not interfere at all with the adjustment of the matrix, but it provides means for yieldingly and frictionally holding each matrix in its adjusted porestoring all the matrices to zero position at each operation of the machine. Fig. 1 showsthe matrix in; its zero position. The restoring of the matrices is accomplished by means of a restoring bar 25 which extends across the machine adjacent the hubs 13 and which co-operates with projections or lugs 26 formed on thehubs of the matrices. This restoring bar 25 isnormally in the position,

shown in Fig.1 and when the matrlces are ried by two iaacmaj I in zero position, the pro'ections '26 are in the osition shown in Fig. 1-. When any? ing bar a movement about the axis of the shaft 7 'just after the punches have been depressed, and during such movement'of the restoring bar it engages the projections 26 of the m'atricesand brin s them all back to the position shown in ig. 1. When the matrices are fully restored, the restorin bar is automatically returned to the position shown in Fig;

llars 27 which are looselymounted"on'the shaft 7, and it is acted upon by a spring 28 which tendsto hold it in the position shown in Figs.,1' and 2. The re-' This restoring bar is carstoring bar has at -one""end anjext'ension 29 a which" operates in a slot 50 formed in the side wall of the head 6. The shaft 7 car-' ries a spring-pressed dog 31 which is movable radially in a recess 32 and is acted on by a suitable spring '33 which tends to force it outwardly. The outward movement is limited by a suitable pin 34 o erating in a slot in antextension 35. This og 31 is provided with a notch 36' to receive theextension 29 of the restoring bar 25, and it is head with a bar 22 which extends trans also formed withthe bevel or cam face 30.- When the machine is at rest after having completed its cycle of' operations the restoring bar will be in the osition shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the 'sha t 7 will be situated so that the dog 31 is at the upper side of the shaft. After the paper to be erforated has been placed in the mouth 2, t e shaft is rotated' inthe direction of the arrow, Figs. 1 and 3, and during the first half revolution,

the eccentrics 9 operate to depress the head thereby causing the punches to make the desired perforations. When the shaft has been rotated through about three-quarters of a revolution, the head has been lifted by the eccentrics sufiiciently to free the punches from the matrices, and at this time the cam surface 30 of the dog comes into engagement with the extension 29. During continued rotation, the dog wipes under the extensio'n 29 and is depressed into the recess. 32 and when the notch 36 comes opposite said extension the dog will be'moved outwardly under the action of the spring 33thereby to cause said extension to enter the recess. The restorin the sha t so that further rotationof the shaft carries the restoring bar with it. As the locking barmoves upwardly it engages the projections 26 of the matrices which have been set and restores them to their zero position shown in Fig. 1. Just at the time that the matrices are fully restored, the cam" bar at this time becomes locked to. i

weenie its highest elevation. This completes the c ole of operations and the shaft is left in" t is position until the next paper is to be erforated. It will thus be seen that durmg each rotation of the shaft-7 the head 6 is depressed thereby operating the punches to make the desired perforation and the mat- ,rices are automatically restored to their zero position. in using the machine, therefore, the operator simply has to first set the matrices to perforate the desired number, and then insert the paper to be erforated in the throat 2 and give the ban e 8 one complete revolution. During each rotation the desired perforations are made in the paper and the matrices are restored to zero position.

My invention also contemplates the provision of means for making a record on a ribbon or strip of paper of all the characters which are erforated at difierent actuations of the mac ine. To accomplish this, if have provided a record ribbon 42 which is wound on two reels 43 and 44 and which passes over the die-plate 3, so thatwhenever the machine is actuated to perforate a character in a sheet of paper that is inserted in the throat-plate, the punches will also perforate the same character in the record strip 42. Means are provided for feeding the strip with an intermittent movement so that a fresh portion thereof will be brought underneath the unches at each actuation of the machine. %his feeding of the strip may be accomplished in various ways, and as illustrating one way, I'have shown the reel 44.

as having a ratchet 45 rigid therewith which is actuated-b a pawl 46 carried by a pawlcarrier 47 t at is loosely pivoted on the shaft 48 of the reel. The pawl-carrier is connected by a link 49 to the head 6, so that as the head moves up and down to actuate the punches, the pawl-carrier will be oscillated thereby intermittently rotating the reel 45 and giving a corresponding intermittent feeding movement to the record strip 42. ilhe connection between the link 49 and the head is such that the link is not actuated until the head has risen sufficiently to free the punches from the apertures in the record strip 42, and this is provided for by employing a pin-and-slot connection 60 between the link 49 and the head 6. In this way the record strip 42 will always contain a permanent record of all characters which have been punched at every actuation of the machine.

While I have illustrated a selected embodiment of my inventlon, I do not wish to be limited to the constructional features shown. I claim: l 1. In a perforating machine, the com bination with a plurality. of punches, of a settable matrix member for selectively opj erating the punches, means to give said matrix member its punch-actuating movement, and means to restore automatically the matrix member to zero position after each punch-actuating movement thereof.

2. In a perforating machine, the combination with a plurality of groups of punches, of a plurality of settable matrix members, one for each group of punches by which the punches are selectively actuated, means to give the matrix members a punch-actuating movement, and means to restore automat-.

ically the matrix members to zero position after each punch-actuating movement.

3. In a perforating machine, the combination with a plurality of punches, of a settable matrix member for selectively operating said punches, matrix-actuating mechanism to give said matrix its punch-actuating movement, and means operated by said matrix-actuating mechanism to restore the matrix to zero position.

4. In a perforating machine, the combination with a plurality of groups of punches, of a plurality of settable matrix members, one for each group of punches by which the punches are selectively actuated, matrixactuating mechanism to give thematrices their punch-actuating movement, and means actuated by such mechanism to restore the matrices to zero position.

5. In a perforating machine, the combination with a plurality of punches, of a settable matrix member for selectively operating said punches, means to move the matrix member toward and from the punches,

a matrix-restoring member, and means to actuate the same to restore the matrix to zero position while said matrix is moving away from the punches.

6. In a perforating machine, the combination with a base frame, of a plurality of punches mounted therein, a depressible head, a shaft journalled in the head, and a segment-shaped matrix member pivotally mounted on said shaft, and having groups of apertures on its base which co-operate with the punches to punch selected characters, said matrix member having a circular extension, and a finger piece projecting therefrom and by which the matrix maybe adjusted, said member being adapted to be set by a single movement into any one of a plurality of different positions.

7. In a perforating machine, the combination with a base frame, of a plurality of punches carried thereby, a depressible head, a segment-shaped matrix member pivotally llll lee

dicating mounted in said head and having groups of'a ertures on its face, said matrix member iaving a circular extension, a finger piece projectin from said extension through the head and y which the matrix may be adjusted, said extension having thereon incharacters to assist in setting the matrix member. v

8. In a perforating machine, the combination with a frame having a mouth into which may be placed one. or more sheets of paper to be.perforated, of a perforated dieplate forming the bottom of said mouth, a plurality of punches, means for selectively operating said punches to punch different characters in a sheet or sheets occupying the mouth, a record ribbon overlying said die-plate wherebythe record ribbon is punched simultaneously with the sheets of paper, and means associated withthe.

paper to be perforated, of a perforated die plate forming a portion ofthe bottom of said mouth, a plurality of punches co-oper ating with said die-plate, a vertically-movable head, means to-.move/said head, means carried by said head to selectively operate the punches, a record ribbon passing 7 over the die-plate, and means to feed the ribbon intermittently by the vertical movement of the head.

. r 10. In a perforating machine, the combination with a frame, of a plurality of punches mounted therein, a depressible head, a shaft journalled in the head, a sector-shaped matrix member pivotally mounted on the shaft and provided with groups of punch-receiving recesses-repra [of recesses in a ignment with the 'senting characters, and also provided with .a curved extension bearing indicating char- .tor-shaped matrix member ivotally mounted on the shaft and provi ed with groups of punch-receiving recesses representin characters, and also extension bearing in responding to the recesses, said segment being constructed to be moved by a single provided with a curve" lcatlng characters cormovement into position to bring any group of recesses in alignment with the punches, and means cgoperating with the extension to frictionally hold the matrix memberin any adjusted position; I

12.111 aperforating machine, the combination ,-with a frame, of a plurality of punches mounted therein, a depressible head, a shaft journalled in the head,v a sector-shaped matrix member pivotall mounted on the shaft and provided wit groups of punch-receiving recesses representing characters,andjalso provided with a curved extension bearing indicating characters corresponding to the recesses, said segment being constructed to be moved by a single movement into osition to bring any group unches, and yielding means acting against tlib inside of the curved extension tohold the matrix memberin any adjusted position.-

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

- ALFRED L. DAY. 

